Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-12-28
GEROnIMO.S. Prison
A Visit to the Apache Indians Confined In
Fort pickenS- Fla

A Visit TO the Apache Indians Confined In
Fort PIckens, FLA.
As we left the wharf of this quaint
city-which. unfortunately, is fast los
ing its qaaintneSs in the march of inn
provements-an steamed through the
shipping there was a general sigh of
satisfaction. Life was beautiful, Indian
summers soft haze gently toned the
vivid blue of sky and water and gave a
mistiness to otherwise sharp outlines.
We soon neared the principal point of
interest, Fort Pickens and its Indian
prisoners of war. Fort Pickens is situ-
ated on Santf. Rosa Island, one side Of
which is washed by the deep blue waters
of the bay. while on the other shore
breaks the surf of the Gulf of Mexico,
clear and green. As we neared the
landing we observed several groups of
Indians and one officer in their midst.
They gathered about the boat showing
the curiosity Of well-bred and dignilied
children, the principal man among
them being Mangas, one of the chiefs.
As we stepped on the wharf ne pulled
up his fishing line with little pompano
on the hook. / took the fish off for
him and he smiled ut me amiably. 1t
seemed impossible that this smiling
fellow, calmly fishing in Imprisonment.
could be the fierce and desperate man
who had jumped through the car win
dow with the train at full speed. court
ing any mode of death rather than the
modification of surrender.
We passed on within the fort. At
the door of the first room were two In
dian women seated on the floor playing
cards. Our civilization has taught them
this. They ceased their game as we
came up and smiled at the party. The
soldier with us could not interpret. so
our conversation was limited to few
signs.
Next we met a woman with a baby
swinging on her back. She stopped to
let us examine the little fellow. They
have a most remarkable ''instrument of
torture" as we dubbed it, for carrying
the ''papooses' until they can walk. 1t
is OF wood. shaped something like
coffin. with the sides very much lower.
though. In that the child is placed and
strapped. from its neck down to its
heels, its hands straight down by its
sides, so that the little one can move
its head only. This arrangement has
a band of leather which the mother
passes around her forehead. When busy
at any thing she stands it up against
the wall or a post! Of all the babies we
saw there we did not hear one whimper.
The women are very friendly, and
seemed pleased at the attention paid
them and their children by visitors,
laughing a great deal and showing in
variably fine rows of teeth. We saw
great quantities of bead work, baskets,
etc., which they are busy preparing to
sell winter tourists, but we did not pur-
chase, as Indian work is so much better
done by Americans now!
We soon reached Geronimo's quar-
tiers. He sat on chair near his door
and one of his squaws was on the
ground near him, while a baby lust
walking played about his feet. Within
the room on the bed were seated little
boy and girl. jabbering away for all
they were worth, who quite scorned all
our efforts to attract them to us. Ge-
ronimo was more suave than any In
dian man l have ever seen. He smiled
and shook hands and his manner was
almost affable. was much amused TO
see the murlerous old fellow play with
his child. One of his squaws died re-
Gently, but he didn't mourn very long.
We had been told that Natchez was
more naughty than all the others, but
/ think we caught him on his red-letter
day. he was so polite. He is the finest
looking of any of the chiefs and his
face is more honest. Geronimo has q
blander smile, but would never inspire
confidence. Natchcz's hands and feet
are small He stood up for us to look
at him. He is long and 1.-the of limb
and looks as if his strength were quick
and nervous. rather than of the endur-
ing kind. His hatred of Geronimo does
not seem to abate. In fact. the old
diplomat, as he is called here, is in bad
Odor with the other chiefs. They hold
him accountable for their surrender and
have never forgiven him. They are
very chary about asSociating with him.
The storms of few weeks since ter
rified them The "big water" inspires
them with an awe and dread that moth
ing else does, and it was an infinite re-
lief to them when the heavens cleared
and the waters were again calm. The
booming OF the surf. which sounded
like the play of artillery far in the
city, filled them with nnspeakable ter
TOR. What will become of them? Will
their lives be spent in prison? 1t is Il
knOtty question aud one which the
Government has not yet solved. They
are not quite the heroes of Cooper, and
their love of dirt aud treachery are re-
pulsive; but they are men, and mer of
so different birth and rearing we can
not force quite yet into our narrower
grooves. Pensacola (Fta. Cor. PhiLG-
f{elubin Ti1lisS